Katie Taylor at Croke Park: countdown to history at GAA HQ

The scene is set for the Irish sporting legend's final act. 

RUNNING UP THAT HILL: A view of the big screen inside Croke Park. Pic: INPHO/Ben Brady

Three o’clock in the afternoon, Katie Taylor’s historic walk onto the Croke Park pitch was still seven hours and more away, and people were already flocking to the north inner city like moths to a flame.

The ‘hats and scarves’ sellers were there in an abundance not seen around these parts, or in the vicinity of the Aviva Stadium, for many the year as these events and their hinterlands become more and more corporatised and managed.

Taylor’s face was emblazoned on more than hats and scarves. She walked by on tee-shirts, stood out on pictures plastered to walls and on flags too. Italia ’90 Ireland jerseys were another favourite. This was Katie’s day, but people felt like it was Ireland’s with it.

Everyone knew this was big, different.

The sight of the ring and its skeleton roof in the centre of the pitch added another chapter to the stadium’s growing reputation as not just a GAA mecca but a cathedral for all of Irish sport. Slowly but surely the pilgrims filed in to pay their respects.

The bill got going with Dublin’s Paul Ryan facing Paddy Gallagher of Belfast in a middleweight bout, the drama peaking over 20 minutes after the final bell when it was announced that Ryan and not Gallagher had actually been given the decision.

Not a good start.

Adam Olaniyan’s work was already done at that point, the promising Jobstown heavyweight having dispatched Matej Hudak at the end of the first round, the Czech taking a knee and being timed out after a bruising experience ended by a left uppercut.

There was no waiting around.

Olaniyan was still exiting the arena when fellow Dub Bobbi Flood passed him on his ring walk for the super welterweight bout with Jack Swallow. That one went Flood’s way with little hassle, the 21-year old winning all four rounds.

Liverpool’s Joe McGrail delivered the second knockout of the night with a stiff left to the ribs of Coleraine’s Matthew Boreland. It’s a win that retains the WBA Continental Gold belt for a man unbeaten after 14 pro bouts now.

The sun was shining by now, the worries over biblical rain earlier in the week having long dissipated, the gaps between bouts being filled by all manner of Irish celebrities eager to make known their admiration for the woman responsible for all this.

From Jamie Dornan to Michael Flatley, Andrew Scott to Fintan McCarthy, Tommy Tiernan to Ronan Keating, the testimonies and thanks piled up as Molly McCann and Sylwia Doligala took to the canvas shortly after 6pm.

Only four hours and change to go…